Bellman
Bellman is a Norwegian alternative singer/songwriter whose debut album, Mainly Mute, was a breakout hit, garnering critical accolades and featuring the popular single "Spaceship, Move Slow." Born Arne-Johan Rauan and hailing from Larvik, Norway, the singer/songwriter cites influences that include contemporary experimental rock bands such as Sigur Rós and Radiohead; classic pop/rock bands such as the Beach Boys and the Beatles; alternative rock bands of the '90s such as Mercury Rev and Slowdive; and Swedish talents such as Stina Nordenstam.
Norwegian singer/songwriter Bellman is one of the leading voices of a new generation of artists that have succeeded in exporting their unique Norwegian sound to the rest of the world. Bellman, real name Arne-Johan Rauan, originally hails from Larvik, a town just south of Oslo. His debut album, ‘Mainly Mute’ was released in 2009 to much critical acclaim, with lead track, ‘Spaceship, Move Slow’ becoming a huge breakout hit.
Since then, Bellman has toured extensively, bringing his distinctive, soaring tenor-like voice, with its dreamy qualities, to the attention of cross-continental audiences, spanning from the USA to China.
Bellman draws inspiration for his blend of acoustic/electronic sounds, with their melancholic moods and contrasting energetic tones, from an eclectic mix of influences. These include modern experimental rock artists like Sigur Rós and Radiohead, alternative rock-pop bands Mercury Rev and Slowdive, as well as Scandinavian successes, Stina Nordenstam and Under Byen.
So far, Bellman’s career has seen him release four hugely successful albums: ‘Mainly Mute’ (2009), ‘The Curse’ (2010), Melopoiïa (2013) and Morphology (2018), with all four receiving universal acclaim from both critics and music lovers alike.
On top of successful worldwide digital releases, Bellman has also released physical editions of his albums in Norway, Denmark, UK, Japan and South Korea.
Having reached the number #6 slot on the official Norwegian album charts, with his debut release, ‘Mainly Mute’, this multi-talented Norwegian has also achieved several singles successes on the iTunes charts. In addition, his songs have featured in countless media “best of year” listings, including Berlin’s No Fear Of Pop, Norway’s Eardrums Music and Montreal’s Audiozone.
Bellman has received extensive media coverage in Norway, including airplay by the main domestic radio stations, NRK P3, P1, P13 and P4 Norge, as well as slots on Norwegian television. His songs have been featured in TV commercials, film soundtracks and TV series/documentaries. He is well known in both the club and festival scenes in Norway, as well as the international music scene, having played some of the world’s largest music festivals.
Listen
to Bellman’s charted single "Spaceship, Move Slow.”